Tuesday, March 19, 2024

Prediction: Juventus vs Atalanta

Tom Dunstan in Free Soccer Predictions, Serie A 19 May 2019

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Verdict: Both teams to score and over 2.5 goals 

Best Odds: 1/1

Bookmaker: Bet365

With their Sere A title already confirmed, Juventus will welcome European contenders Atalanta to the Allianz Stadium on Sunday evening.

Juventus

Starting with the hosts, while Juventus may have reclaimed their Serie A crown with plenty of time to spare, it has been far from a bright end to the year for the Old Lady. Coming off the back of another worrying display in their 2-0 loss away at Roma last weekend, they have now remarkably managed to secure just a single victory in their last seven matches across all competitions. Also managing to only secure another quarter-final finish in this year’s Champions League, Juventus have confirmed that boss Massimiliano Allegri will be leaving his role at the end of the campaign. While leading goalscorer and five-time Ballon d’Or winner Cristiano Ronaldo has continued to spearhead Juve’s form in the final third with 21 Serie A goals this season, fans around the Allianz will be growing more concerned by their sides continued defensive issues. Sunday’s hosts have failed to record a single clean sheet in any of their previous eight appearances.

Team News

Mattia Perin, Sami Khedira and Douglas Costa are all ruled out through injury, while Mario Mandzukic will face a late fitness test for Juventus.

Atalanta

As for the visitors, after suffering a surprise 2-0 loss against Lazio in last weekends Coppa Italia Final, Atalanta will now have their attention solely on securing a Champions League finish. While their defeat at the Stadio Olimpico may have seen their five-match winning run come to an end, the mood in Gian Piero Gasperini’s camp will still be on a high. Holding a two-point buffer over Roma in the race to secure a spot in the top-four, it has been Atalanta’s form in the final third that has really spearheaded The Black and Blues European charge. No team in Serie A hold a better-attacking record than Sunday’s visitors and one man who has continued to catch the eye this season is leading goalscorer and attacking talisman, Duvan Zapata. The Napoli loanee has 22 top-flight strikes this season and sits second in the overall goalscoring charts.

Team News

Gianluca Mancini is available once again following suspension, although Jose Luis Palomino is now suspended and Rafael Toloi injured.

Key Factors to Consider

  • Juventus have managed to record just one win in their last seven matches across all competitions.
  • The Old Lady have also failed to record a single clean sheet in any of their last eight outings.
  • Atalanta are unbeaten in their last 11 Serie A appearances, winning eight and drawing three.
  • No team in Serie A has scored more than Atalanta’s 73 goals this year. Juventus sit second with 69 goals scored.
  • Four of the last five meetings between the two sides have seen both teams score and over 2.5 goals at full-time.

Conclusion

On paper, this has all the makings of a matchup that should produce plenty of chances at both ends. Despite both Juventus and Atalanta struggling with some defensive issues at the back end of the season, the two sides hold the best-attacking stats in Serie A and their previous meetings have proven to be lively encounters. Playing out a 2-2 draw when the two sides met back on Boxing Day, we’re backing a similar outcome this weekend.

Verdict: Both teams to score and over 2.5 goals

Best Odds: 1/1

Bookmaker: Bet365

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Tom Dunstan


Formerly of The Independent, Tom has spent the past six years as one of our senior writers and betting experts. Alongside working with numerous publications from across the globe, Tom also graduated from the University of Falmouth in 2014 with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Digital Media.
Spending almost the past decade working in countries such as Australia, New Zealand and Canada, he has also spent time featuring in sports radio. Tom can be followed on Instagram - @iamtomdunstan

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